Hidden Hills Garden

The man at the wildlife department told me, the fact that bald eagles nest along this 25,000 feet of magnificent shoreline wasn’t enough to save it. And that trying to stop the school board from developing it, was like David fighting Goliath. But he was wrong. In that story David wins.

I was so hopeful, I thought if only people could see this magnificent landscape, surely they would want to preserve it. So I wrote a blog about it with lots of beautiful pictures, and I convinced my friend Phillip at Dirt Therapy to post about it on his blog too. I pestered Jennifer E. until she put something on Alabama Gardener Magazine’s Facebook page, I printed and distributed hundreds of fliers, I gave a speech, I emailed everyone I could think of, I used Facebook to help spread the word, and I wrote a letter to the editor.

Was it too little too late?

 So where do I go from here? After allowing myself a good cry, I’m going to brush myself off and head out to the garden for the day. Reconnecting with nature always makes me feel better. And if you’re feeling bad about some aspect of the election, I suggest you do the same.

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On the bright side, I live a wonderfully blessed life, and happiness waits for me just around the corner. But today I am very sad.

12-26-12 Update: This could be a blessing in disguise because it allows an exciting, new possibility. I nominated the land for the Forever Wild program, and if they buy it from the Cullman County School Board, it would become either a nature preserve or a recreational area or a combination. Forever Wild pays up to appraised value, so the school board gets the money they need, and the land serves its original intent, it benefits the children.

Show your support of this idea by liking the Save Smith Lake facebook page.

I think the magnificent, undeveloped shoreline of section 16 is the very best part of Smith Lake. It’s been saved for over two hundred years. But if Cullman County, AL voters don’t vote NO on local amendment one, it will be sold and developed. I’m so MAD about this!!!

I’m not the only one who’s mad. The Smith Lake Environmental Preservation Committee voted unanimously to oppose Cullman local amendment number one.

The fate of 25,000 feet of the most amazing shoreline you’ve ever seen is at stake. It will likely be sold and developed if the Cullman County proposed local amendment number one passes. My husband, Dale, is pessimistic; he says the wording makes it seem like if you want to help the school system, you should vote yes, and who doesn’t want to help schools? I love schools, but I’m hoping everyone votes NO.

While talking to people about this important issue I discovered a misconception. Some people think the Cullman County proposed local amendment number one is just about redirecting the funds generated from the current use of the land so it goes to local schools instead of being spread throughout the state; and they believe the land will remain the beautiful green space it is today. Oh, if only that were true.

In this Cullman Times article, Superintendent Billy Coleman refers to getting his hands on this property as a windfall. You can’t get a windfall unless you sell land. He goes on to discuss sacrificing the stunning natural landscape.

He talks about what he’s going to do with his big windfall. He’s spending 10% of it off the top. He’d like to save the other 90%, and just spend the interest; but there is nothing in the proposed  amendment that restricts the Board from selling the land and squandering the income. How long do you think politicians can hold on to a pot of money without spending it? The money will dwindle away until there’s nothing left. NO I say!!! This land belongs to our grandchildren’s children, and it should be preserved for them. Vote NO on proposed local amendment one.

I thought I should give a face to the land whose fate is in our hands. The school board and I agree this is extremely valuable land, we just disagree about what should be done with it.

This is how it reads on the ballot:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT WHICH APPLIES TO ONLY ONE COUNTY PROPOSED LOCAL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1)

Relating to Cullman County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to grant sixteenth section and school lands located in Cullman County, and held in trust by the state for education purposes in Cullman County, to the Cullman County Board of Education; to authorize the Cullman County Board of Education to manage, sell, lease, and control those lands; and to provide for the distribution of any proceeds and interest from the sale, lease, or other disposition of the land or the sale of timber, minerals, or other natural resources generated by the land. (Proposed by Act No. 2012-174)
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I’m in favor of the school system benefiting from the land, but not in this way. Not with the probability of losing all or most of the 878 acres affected by this amendment. Better to look at this land as money in the bank, and live off the interest, not the principle. I would support leasing the land to Forever Wild, then the schools would have a steady income, and the land would be preserved.

(Speaking of Forever Wild, if you live in Alabama, don’t forget to vote YES on proposed statewide amendment no. 1 which reauthorizes the Forever Wild Land Trust.)

Hundreds of people jump off this rock, but my son Jesse is the cutest.

PLEASE, if you live in Cullman County, Alabama, turn over the ballot, and vote NO on the last thing on the ballot, proposed local amendment number one (1). And if you know anyone in Cullman County PLEASE ask them to at least come look at the pictures on this blog and see what’s at stake. All the pictures for this blog are section 16 land, except the next one. And if you’re on facebook, you could help by sharing a link to either what Alabama Gardener Magazine wrote, or this blog. You never know, your friend could have a relative in Cullman County.

That picture was not intentionally fuzzy. It was the best I could do with my limited computer skills, but you can follow this link and then click on your county to see your sample ballot. Select Cullman County if you want to actually read a copy of that last picture.

And if the only way you can help is to say a little prayer, that would be helpful too.

Thanks, Peggy

12-26-12 Update: The vote went the other way, but this could be a blessing in disguise because it allows an exciting, new possibility. If Forever Wild buys this land from the Cullman County School Board, it would become either a nature preserve or a recreational area or a combination. Forever Wild pays up to appraised value, so the school board gets the money they need, and the land serves its original intent, it benefits the children.

Show your support of this idea by liking the Save Smith Lake facebook page.